OUR DREAM ISLAND | LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES | ISLAND LIFE
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Today begins a new adventure. We feel joy and fear at the same time.
At dawn we arrived at the airport in Manila. This is where Boria and Mama first set foot on Philippine soil. Is this goodbye? Of course not. We hope that things will get even better for us at our next destination. We'll learn to stand on our own two feet and start building our lives from scratch.
Manila is much more beautiful during the day. Blue skies, greenery, tall buildings. Planes fly one by one.
When Boria was planning his move to the Philippines, he read articles about the country and watched videos of Russian vloggers who live in the here. We left Pangasinan because we didn't want to experience the typhoon season that was coming soon.
Finally, we boarded the plane. It felt like we were in a freezer. The Filipinos like to turn the air conditioning on full blast. But that doesn't matter anymore, we're on our way to our island dream.
"Davao: Life is here." That phrase greeted us at Francisco Bangoy International Airport. The question is: Will our life be here? Or is it just a place we are passing through.
As we walked out of the airport, we realized that there was no waiting area to wait for sunrise. So we would have to make a spontaneous decision. We got in a cab and headed to the pier leading to Samal Island. We were tired, hungry, and sleepy.
I noticed this tarp with pictures of wanted fugitives. I cried and even said I wanted to go back to Pangasinan.
We had heard that some parts of Mindanao were not safe for foreigners. But Davao City is often called the safest city in the Philippines. It has even been named the second-most livable city in the country.
The ferry arrived and we were finally allowed to board. After a while we broke away from the big island of Mindanao, leaving all doubts behind, ready to take on new challenges.
Samal Island is one of the seven thousand tropical islands of the Philippines with many beaches, white coral sand, rustling coconut palms and turquoise water.
The island's economy relies heavily on agriculture. Copra, mango, corn, vegetables, citrus fruits and fish are the main products of the island. Besides cattle breeding and rice cultivation are also practiced here.
The first inhabitants of Samal were called Isamals.
The island is named after this early tribe that came here centuries ago from the nearby archipelagos of Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Moluccan Islands.
Before the arrival of the Americans in the 1900s, the Isamal tribe was ruled by a king who was called a "datu" here. One of the latter, was the tribal chief Datu Taganiog, who ruled the small coastal village of Malibasa, known today as Penalata.
He died in 1948 and was so respected and revered by the islanders that they named his village Malibasa, which means "honorable."
We found a small apartment for rent on Facebook Marketplace and came to see it. The apartment is unfurnished, but we liked it. It's close to the beach.
We also tried to change some money, but unfortunately they don't want to change the old dollar bills we were given at the Russian bank. so we had to go to Davao City.
The easiest way to get around Davao City is by muletikab. It's like a jeepney, only smaller. The fare is about 20 pesos from Sasa wharf to Gaizano Mall.
Davao is called the fruit basket of the Philippines and the capital of durian, chocolate, and cocoa.
Davao is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of bananas, papaya, mangosteen, and even flowers. It is also known to Filipinos as the birthplace of the 16th president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte.
We were tired. To lighten the mood a little, we bought some ice candy. I am a simple Taurus girl. Food always makes me happy.
Looking at Samal Island from afar, we realized why it's called Island Garden. It looks like a garden with tall coconut palms surrounding its shore. When I dreamed of the island, that's what came to mind. The view is beautiful, but Boria told that I am the best view of all.
We went straight to the stores, where we looked at mattresses for us and mom in the morning.
The next day we took Mom on a little shopping trip to buy a few more things for the house.
We also took her to the salon to get a haircut. She looks happier and younger, and looks like a tourist in her big summer hat.
We went to the beach near the house, where the local fishermen leave their boats. They let us swim here for free.
Our first days on Samal were difficult and tiring. But we're glad we were able to get through it all together. We really want to explore this place and see the beauty that lurks here. Together with my husband, our mom, and you, dear friends, we will continue our life on the island.